CRES 203 Restorative Justice

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles and practice of restorative justice. Students will explore the needs and roles of key stakeholders (victims, offenders, communities, justice system), outline the basic principles and values of restorative justice, and learn some of the primary models of practice. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on how the theories and practices of restorative justice radically reframe the traditional notions of the American criminal justice and education systems. Specifically, students will be challenged to examine the differences between restorative and retributive systems through a lens of multicultural perspectives and experiences. Students explore the use of restorative practices, such as reconciliation, to repair the harm to communities affected by mass victimizations or collective violence.

Credits

3

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. Inventory the historical development of the restorative justice movement.
2. Compare and contrast retributive justice with restorative justice.
3. Compare and contrast the theoretical foundations for various restorative justice practices.
4. Analyze and evaluate recent practices in restorative justice.
5. Apply restorative principles to situations within the criminal justice and education
   systems.
6. Examine the theoretical foundation of trauma healing.
7. Differentiate varying restorative justice practices, as used in different practice arenas
   (e.g., social work, criminal justice, education).
8. Synthesize options and justify the use of a particular restorative practice in a given
   situation.
9. Apply restorative justice principles and language to compare and contrast restorative
   approaches to collective violence.
10. Evaluate and synthesize recent research and literature about restorative justice.

Course Objectives

1. Inventory the historical development of the restorative justice movement.
2. Compare and contrast retributive justice with restorative justice.
3. Compare and contrast the theoretical foundations for various restorative justice practices.
4. Analyze and evaluate recent practices in restorative justice.
5. Apply restorative principles to situations within the criminal justice and education
   systems.
6. Examine the theoretical foundation of trauma healing.
7. Differentiate varying restorative justice practices, as used in different practice arenas
   (e.g., social work, criminal justice, education).
8. Synthesize options and justify the use of a particular restorative practice in a given
   situation.
9. Apply restorative justice principles and language to compare and contrast restorative
   approaches to collective violence.
10. Evaluate and synthesize recent research and literature about restorative justice.